#what every child who imagined going to Hogwarts thought about: unleashing the killing curse and murdering other children

[yusuke-of-valla]

I wish I was exaggerating but I’m not

Per the article:

Avalanche Studios’ second gameplay showcase for Hogwarts Legacy aired earlier today, showing off flight on broomsticks and hippogriffs, as well as the game’s customization options and Room of Requirement home base. As IGN points out, however, the most eye-catching part was a trip to the Dark Arts Battle Arena where, playing as a young Hogwarts student, the developers instantly melted some rando using the Avada Kedavra curse.

The developers explain that battle arenas allow players to test out abilities early to see whether they want to invest in unlocking them. Completing combat challenges there also unlocks new outfits and other cosmetics. The Dark Arts Battle Arena is unique, however, in being exclusive to the Deluxe Edition which costs $10 extra, and allowing early access to dark arts abilities like the Avada Kedavra curse.

Like. I know. I know in the logical part of my brain that this is low on the list of problems with this game and it’s existence. I know the actual problem this represents is the carving off chunks of the game to be sold back to you for an extra price.

But I can’t even think about that because I’m too busy looking at this and screaming WHY WHY THE FUCK IS THIS A THING THEY DECIDED TO PUT IN?!

Like. Ok. Killing children in a game does not mean you’re ok with child murder in real life nor does it make you more likely to commit child murder, I get that but I’m pretty sure most games that even give you the option of killing children acknowledge that you’re a shitty and fucked up person if you do that (the only game where I know you murder children is BioShock and you get the bad ending for doing that but I assume you can do it in Fallout?). They might say that in a comedic tone or whatever but that doesn’t seem like a tone that fits the Harry Potter Universe?

And if it’s like a morality thing “DO NOT MURDER CHILDREN” is a cheap way to signal whether your character is a good or a bad guy.

And again NONE OF THIS MATTERS because the game is rife with antisemitic stereotypes and supporting it is supporting JKR who literally just created a trans-exclusionary shelter with her besties who harassed another shelter for being helmed by a trans woman so you shouldn’t get the game ANYWAY

But still WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK WHY. WHY IS THIS A THING.

The new Harry Potter game lets you pay $10 to murder children

[hphm-etched-engraved-everlasting]

11. Clara

Author’s Note/Table of Contents

It wasn't the first time I trekked into the Forbidden Forest as the sun set below the horizon. With the sleepwalking curse prevailing over the student population in my fourth year came multiple trips into the Forest to not only locate the Vault, but also interact with some of the most dangerous and tame beasts that lived there. I should have been used to the prospect of going into the Forest every time we encountered trouble, but I was halted at one point by Professor Dumbledore and Mr. Filch, and was even delivered a year-long detention which put a damper on the triumph. I didn't want this trip to go to waste--especially since my life, my siblings' lives, and the lives of innocent agents were now at risk--and so I timed my excursion accordingly, glancing over my shoulder every so often to avoid getting caught.

The normal howling winds now brushed past in faint whispers, the hard-packed dirt beneath my feet concealed with leaves that had only begun to fall. The dense white fog greeted me as I delved deeper into the forest's open arms, and I tried to imagine that the tall trees were just providing a common shelter, protecting all that called the forest its home. Before long, the school faded out of sight, hidden behind the mist...and that was when I heard the sound of familiar hooves approaching me, trotting over the ground.

I didn't have to rub my eyes to recognize the all-too-familiar Centaur.

"Thanks for meeting me, Torvus," I greeted him with a wave.

Torvus grinned upon seeing me, his eyes brightening. "I am happy to indulge the human who returned my herd's arrowhead and helped bring an end to my exile," he simply told me, nodding. "Were you able to defeat the dragon in the Cursed Vault and break the curse trapping the students in the portraits?"

I haven't forgotten how Torvus helped train me and Merula to fight a beast as strong as the Hungarian Horntail in the Vault. Honestly, I was happy I was able to return alive, though I knew the child that wondered about Jacob's whereabouts had been all but left behind, brutally destroyed.

"Yes. Thanks to your advice about working together, we were able to subdue the dragon and break the curse," I answered. "Unfortunately, none of us were prepared for our professor, Rakepick, betraying us in the Vault. We managed to make it out, but..."

Teamwork wasn't always what made the dream work. Trust could only go so far before someone decided to reveal their true intentions, destroying what trust we had.

A family, Rakepick called us. A family that tore apart so mercilessly at the seams.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Torvus finally said.

Even that sounded weak to my ears.

"What of your brother? Did you manage to find him?" Torvus eventually asked.

"I did, but he left shortly after to chase after Rakepick," I explained. "I hardly got to speak with him. In a way, it seemed less painful when he was stuck in the portrait, back in the buried Vault. At least then he didn't have the choice of avoiding me if he ever saw me." I sighed and buried my hands in my pockets. "Now I don't know if I'll ever see him the same way again, or bring him back to our family."

Silence ensued for a moment, my heart pounding at the thought of feeling vulnerable to a beast that could potentially kill me in a heartbeat. Tears almost welled at the thought of bringing this new Jacob home to my family--to my mother, publicly disgraced; to my father, fragile when it came to his only son; to my sister, who barely remembered him. It was all the Cursed Vaults could do to permanently change our family dynamic. I couldn't see what our family would be like now with Jacob acting like this.

"...I'm sorry, Clara," Torvus finally said. "I know what it's like to be abandoned by those who mean the most to you."

Yes, Jacob abandoned me. Yes, he brought this upon us--this misfortune, this humiliation. But I looked up at Torvus and remembered all that he had been through whilst I was still in a position of hope. He was cast out of his herd for losing the arrowhead, and never heard from them in his exile. When we first met, he travelled alone, operated alone. My family was abandoned by choice, but Torvus was abandoned by tradition, by law.

"I know you do," I murmured. "In fact, I think you had it worse, Torvus. Your whole family shunned you, after all--I can't imagine how painful and hard that must have been."

"But we're together now. That's all that matters," Torvus reassured me, his smile returning in an attempt to comfort me. "And I hope you're able to have a proper reunion with your brother, too."

Not just me--my entire family. It was all I could think of to make sure he comes back safe and sound.

"Thanks, Torvus."

Torvus nodded, somewhat content. "You're welcome. But I imagine you didn't come here just to catch up."

He had a point. I rarely came by here just to say hello to Torvus and interact with him like a friend.

"You're right," I said, heaving a heavy sigh. "I came here because--"

"Another curse has been unleashed at Hogwarts and you came to consult with me."

"Yes." I nodded in shock, a little surprised he'd say that. Had my pattern become this predictable now? "A student's recently been Petrified--how did you know?"

"You only seek me out when you need help with something related to the vaults or your brother," Torvus responded, a hint of obviousness in his voice. "I didn't have to divine the future to see that coming."

"Ha-ha," I grunted. "Though funny you mention Divination, because that's why I came."

Now Torvus looked intrigued, and he tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

"My Divination professor, Trelawney, gave me an ominous sounding prophecy earlier today," I told him, swallowing the phlegm that gathered in my throat. "And I don't have a lot of clues as to what or where the final Cursed Vault is located--just a coral key...and the Petrified student I found looked rather similar to the merperson trident I found in the last Cursed Vault. If this prophecy is related to the final Cursed Vault and this new curse, deciphering it could provide potential answers."

"And you came to me for help because you heard that Centaurs were especially good at Divination," Torvus finished.

"Correct." I chuckled at how quickly we were able to clear this issue--though I was thoroughly surprised at how predictable I've become. "Are you sure you didn't divine the heavens before I came?"

"I didn't have to. Humans can be very predictable," Torvus responded. "Now tell me what this prophecy is. I'll see if I can provide further insight."

So I told him. I told him about the murky water, final endings, changes swirling around me, paying ultimate prices--just about the same thing I told the Weasleys, and my sister and her friend back in the library earlier today. Of course, with this task just dumped on him without prior warning, Torvus didn't seem as prepared to decipher it as anyone back in the library. He kept muttering about consulting the heavens and wishing he had sage and mallowsweet with him--this didn't sound like a good sign.

I couldn't blame him, though. Even Centaurs had their limits when it came to Divination. Gifts that they were given at birth could only become skills if carefully nurtured and practised. Some were just able to master it quicker than others, or had practised the skill more. Either way, I knew Torvus was trying his best. I couldn't push him to stretch beyond his limits.

"I'm sorry, Clara. This prophecy is beyond my capabilities," Torvus eventually said after a long while, shaking his head and pawing his hoof to the ground. "This Professor Trelawney must either be truly gifted or truly fake."

I almost snorted at that one--in either case, it would make deciphering the prophecy a complete waste of time. Still, I suppose sometimes prophecies were solely made to be cloudy, and wouldn't make any sense unless it passed.

"Thanks anyway, Torvus," I responded with a sigh. "It's fine. I guess I'll just wait in the dark until some miracle comes around."

"There are a few members of my herd who might be able to help, though. They are more gifted in Divination than I--masters of astrology who use mallowsweet and sage to refine their findings," Torvus suggested. "They might be able to help you gain further insight into your prophecy."

At least there was still that possibility. I had to be able to score it in order to get closer to some sort of clue.

"That's great. If it'll help me find the last Cursed Vault before Rakepick and lead me to my brother, I'll have to speak to the other Centaurs!" I decided.

Torvus, however, shook his head and frowned. "It might not be easy," he warned me. "Most refuse to get this close to human settlements. And humans, with the exception of Hagrid and a few others, aren't welcome into the Centaur Camp at all."

Ah. Of course, with every proposition, there had to be a catch.

"Is there any way I can convince the herd to let me visit the Camp?" I asked him.

"I can try to vouch for you, but I was only recently accepted back into the camp. My word might not mean much," Torvus said, hanging his head sadly. "But if you can find and present suitable offerings for them, they might be able to consider it."

"Offerings? Like what?" I asked.

"Anything that shows that you understand and respect the herd and culture," Torvus said. "But I can't tell you anything more than that. Everything must come genuinely from you. If the herd finds out I helped you, they'll reject your offering, forbid you from visiting the camp and likely exile me all over again."

Well, that's not good. I don't want to do anything that could potentially get anyone else hurt. The vision of the Petrified student's eyes flashed before me and I almost stumbled back in shock. I knew I had to work quickly, but where could I start?

"I have faith in you, Clara," Torvus finally said. "Trust your instincts--they'll serve you well."

Trust my instincts? That sounded exactly like the advice I gave Jae when we first explored the Ice Vault corridor together searching for Scabbers, Percy's pet rat. He remarked that instincts always lead him to trouble, but instincts could lead to something good, too.

And if my instincts were right, then I knew exactly where to go first.